Thousands answer 'give blood' plea

Thousands of people have responded to a call for blood donations, including 20,000 first time donors, new figures show

Thousands of people have responded to a call for blood donations, including 20,000 first time donors, new figures show.

The NHS issued a call for 10,000 to make a date to donate after revealing a 20% drop drop in young, regular donors over the last decade, raising concerns about the level of stocks.

Almost 100,000 people across England and North Wales responded to last month's campaign, the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) said today.

Jon Latham, of the NHSBT, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the public's response to our campaign, and would like to thank all of the first time and regular donors who made a date to donate, a simple act that will help to save and improve many lives.

"However, to maintain blood stocks we need a staggering two million donations and 230,000 new donors every year - and there is still a lack of regular young donors."

One of the first time, young donors was 25-year-old Franki Jus-Burke, an Olympic rowing hopeful, who said: "When I saw the news about the drop in young donors I felt compelled to become a donor myself. I made an appointment that day and gave blood the same week.

"I've even managed to convince a few of my friends to do the same, and I'm booked in to give blood again in September."